The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-04-28
THE SNAKE KING.
BY WALLACE p. REED.


John Maston was up early. He had
a long ride before him to Pyramid,
and his young wife urged him to start
with the rising sun, and return late in
the afternoon, in order to avoid the
midday heat.
The Matson plantation stretched
for miles along the Alabama river.
The nearest white neighbor was ten
miles off, and it took three hours to
reach the village of Pyramid.
Matson and his wife stood on the
broad piazza. looking down the slop-
inglawn to the road. where Black Tom
was waiting with the horse and buggy.
Far away to the right wi<aths OF dense
fog indicted the winding course OF the
river. Not a breath OF air stirred the
semi-tropical foliage OF the trees, and
the atmosphere was laden with the
perfume of thousands of flowers and
aromatic plants.
sWhat does this mean9" said Mat
son, as several negroes turned in from
the road, and approached the house,
bearing in their strong arms limp
and motionless figure.
"Oh, John, it is dead man. ex-
claimed little Mrs. Matson.
The planter ran down to meet the
men. They were all field hands, and
he knew every black face in the group.
Hello, Sam. what is the mattery
What is up he asked the leader.
s.Ter tell de troof, Marss Boss,
replied Sam, nervously scratching his
head. Use so plumb done put out
bout dis ting dat l dunno muffin.
Dis yer white man must be seeker
dead. dunno which. We found him
down by de landin', an we jist bruns
him erlong."
as he dead?' gasped Mrs. Matson.
mo, but he is unconscious" said
her husband, who had been examln
ing the stranger. eve must take care
of him, of course. hate to 60 OF to
town now, but / can't help 1t. III
wait half an hour or SO and see what
turns up."
The man was carried to q large and
comfort al bile room and carefully put
to bed by Sam and another negro
Then Mr.. Matson felt his pulse and
took a good look at him.
The Strengthening, sallow face, lean
to the point of emaciation, with tbs
tangled black hair around it, had q
weird look with it's background o.
white pillows. A small dose of brandy
was forced through The tightly closed
mouth, and the man suddenly opened
his eyes. They were such shining
black orbs that Sam fell back mutter.
ing.
"Fo' de Lawd!"
Half an hour later Matson went to
his wife and said:
"Well, 1 must 60. Aunt Lucy is
looking after our patient, and yon will
do the best you can. The case does
not require doctor. Some beef tea
today and something solid to-mor
row will bring the fellow up. He is
nearly dead from exposure and star
vation."
"But who-?"
"Oh, yes," answered Matson, "you
want to know who he is, where he il
from. and why he is in this fix. 1t i
no time to question him now. JIG
looks like a foreigner, a Cuban or per
haps a Gypsy. He speaks little En-
glish. and that is all know. You need
not be afraid of him. He is as feeble
as an infant, and little withered OLD
chap with the queerest little head il
the world. 1t is long and narrow, and
looks more like snakes head thar
anything else" 80,
ooh, John, you frighten me!'
"But it does" remarked John
laughing, "and now that / think o.
his snaky eyes and his sinnous motion
it strikes me that snaky is the best
description that could be given OF him
TehI It makes my flesh crawl to lool
at HIM. But that is neither here mol
there. When l get back I'll attend to
him."
And giving his wife kiss. MastoI
ran down to the buggy, jumped m ane
dashed off on his way to Pyramid.
Lett alone, SO lar as white faces
were concerned, with a mysterlon!
stranger in the house, Mrs. Matsof
felt, a peculiar nervousness which sha
could not shake off. For awhile sh'
busted herself experimenting house
hold affairs, but finally she could no.
resist the temptation to pass the 100
OF the sick mans room and look II,
There he was, swarthy and wrinkled
and looking more like snake thar
ever. The serpentine head raised 1t
self with an arching motion. and th'
little black eyes sparkled like bead
as moor Mrs. Matson glanced into TIN
room. As for Aunt Lucy, she follow
ed her mistress into the hall. .
4.De Lawd hab mussy," she said
"but Marse John otter stay at hom'
stidder trapsin' of ter town. Da
man in dar skeer me ter def.
t The lady Of the house said somsthin
reassuring. and went into the pafiof
where size vainly tried to amuse her
self in VARIOUS ways.
"How time orass!" she exclaimed
"a she went to a window and looket
out in thedirection OF the river. !,
Did she see snake bAsking in tin
sunshine directly under the window
She looked intently for a moment. l
was thick, ugly looking moccasln
fully five feet long. While she was gaz
ing the vicious intruder raised IT!
head, and returned her stare with
look of intelligence.
It was q moccasin locality. and Mrs
Matson did not care a snap OF her i'm
ger for few snakes around her iron
door. She was accustomed to flint
them in her flower beds, and some
times thew made their way into tn
house, but on this particular mornin
she was not herself. She turned he
head and saw another snake.
With an uncomfortable shudder tn
nervous little lady walked A1ross tn
hall into another room, and ioekel
out towards the garden. What wa
that dark thing just outside the fence
There could be no doubt ahoptit.
was another snake.
By this tims Mrs.. Matson's ibloo
was up. Calling Sally, one Of the SCI
wants, she sent her to the kitchen t